Method for Detecting Chromosome Structure and Gene Expression Simultaneously in Single Cells

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to systems and methods for measuring chromosome structure and gene expression. In one embodiment, the present invention includes an assay for determining the spatial organization of gene expression in the nucleus. The present invention also includes a method based on fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) that simultaneously yields information on the physical position and expression of individual genes. By lighting up a large number of targets on a particular chromosome using a bar-coding scheme, the large scale structure of an entire chromosome can be determined.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/439,623, filed on Feb. 4, 2011, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein as if set forth herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The DNA in a single human cell, if fully elongated, would stretch for roughly two meters. However, each cell compacts these incredibly long polymeric molecules within the cell's nucleus, a space just a few microns across. Increasingly, researchers are finding that this compacted conformation is not just a random “ball of string”, but rather is highly organized and dynamically regulated (Cremer et al., 2001, Nat Rev Genet 2: 292-301). Developing a better understanding of this compacted form will provide key insights in how the spatial organization of genetic information in the nucleus affects its readout via gene expression.

Gene expression involves the transcription of mRNA molecules from the genome followed by the export of those mRNAs to the cytoplasm. Evidence indicates that the structure of chromosomes, generally organized into distinct territories in the nucleus (Cremer et al., 2001, Nat Rev Genet 2: 292-301), play a role in both processes (Fraser et al., 2007, Nature 447: 413-417; Misteli, 2007, Cell 128: 787-800; Papantonis et al., 2010, Curr Opin Cell Biol. 22(3):271-6). Indeed, a numerical accounting of transcription reveals that the abundances of the large enzyme complexes required for RNA polymerization and splicing range between hundreds to thousands per cell that must somehow transcribe the many tens of thousands of genes in the nucleus (Jackson et al., 1998, Mol Biol Cell 9: 1523-1536; Osborne et al., 2004, Nat Genet 36: 1065-1071; Wansink et al., 1993, J Cell Biol 122: 283-293). Some data suggest that sets of actively transcribed genes localize to “transcription factories” (Iborra et al., 1996, J Cell Sci 109: 1427-1436; Schoenfelder et al., 2010, Nat Genet 42: 53-61; Sexton et al., 2007, Semin Cell Dev Biol 18: 691-697). Limited accessibility to and transient formation of these factories may underlie the intermittent nature of gene expression that both we and others have observed (Raj et al., 2006, PLoS Biol 4: e309; Raj et al., 2008, Cell 135: 216-226).

Meanwhile, for many years, researchers reasoned that the high density of polymeric materials in the nucleus would make RNA diffusion prohibitively slow, leading to the “gene gating” hypothesis (Blobel, 1985, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 82: 8527-8529) that genes themselves must move to nuclear periphery for the export of the RNA to be reasonably efficient. Indeed, there is some evidence for this, with some genes moving to the periphery upon activation and physically associating with nuclear pores complexes (Brown et al., 2007, Curr Opin Genet Dev 17: 100-106; Capelson et al., 2010, Cell 140: 372-383; Casolari et al., 2004, Cell 117: 427-439; Kalverda et al., 2010, Cell 140: 360-371). However, biophysical analyses have shown that RNA diffusion in the nucleus is rather rapid and thus not limiting (Vargas et al., 2005, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 102: 17008-17013), and the majority of genes appear to remain in the nuclear interior (often exhibiting silencing at the periphery, in fact (Chuang et al., 2006, Curr Biol 16: 825-831; Kosak et al., 2002, Science 296: 158-162)).

Unfortunately, there is a lack of a clear picture of chromosome structure and gene expression, which stems from the lack of effective tools for measuring genetic structure and function simultaneously at the single cell level. Most conventional imaging assays for chromosome structure focus only on the position of one or two loci at a time, whereas global biochemical approaches provide indirect measurements averaged over populations of many thousands to millions of cells. In either case, gene expression data are difficult to obtain. For these reasons, questions remain regarding how spatially ordered or disordered gene expression is on interphase chromosomes, or regarding the variability of chromosome configurations, and how they contribute to variability in gene expression.

Currently, two broad classes of methods are used to study chromosome structure. One method is chromosome conformation capture (3C) (Dekker et al., 2002, Science 295: 1306-1311) and its variants, most notably (Duan et al., 2010, Nature 465(7296):363-7; Lieberman-Aiden et al., 2009, Science 326: 289-293). 3C is a biochemical technique that measures the frequency of direct physical interactions between genomic loci in populations of cells. While the Hi-C incarnation of the method yields genome wide information on these interactions, it does have a number of drawbacks. For example, it does not yield single cell data, it does not give any information about expression, and it only yields interaction probabilities rather than chromosome structure per se.

The other approach is DNA FISH, involving the detection of fluorescently labeled probes targeting small or large regions of DNA (or even whole chromosomes). This approach is more direct, but studies so far have been limited to only a few loci, limiting its scope. Most importantly though, the harsh conditions required to denature DNA in preparation for DNA FISH cause significant RNA degradation, generally precluding its combination with RNA FISH methods except for highly abundant targets (Chaumeil et al., 2006, Genes Dcv 20: 2223-2237) or using signal amplification methods that are difficult to multiplex (Takizawa et al., 2008, Genes Dev 22: 489-498).

There is a need for a method that allows one to measure gene expression of one or many genes via RNA FISH while simultaneously obtaining chromosomal structural information about chromosomes. The present invention satisfies this need.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method for determining the structural conformation of a chromosome in a cell. The method includes the step of hybridizing a plurality of target sequences of RNA in the cell with members of at least one set of fluorescently labeled oligonucleotide probes, wherein the plurality of targeted sequences of RNA are transcribed from portions of at least one chromosome, and wherein the pattern of fluorescently labeled probes hybridized to the target sequences of RNA is indicative of the structural conformation of the chromosome. In one embodiment, the location of the hybridized probes is simultaneously indicative of the chromosomal location of gene expression for the transcribed RNA. In another embodiment, the number, the intensity, or both, of fluorescing probes is indicative of the level of gene expression at the chromosomal location. In yet another embodiment, each set of fluorescently labeled oligonucleotide probe sets are labeled with a different fluorophore resulting in a different and distinguishable color when measurably fluorescent. In yet another embodiment, the method includes the step of counting fluorescent spots corresponding to single molecules of target RNA to obtain a gene expression profile corresponding to the simultaneously determined, associated chromosomal conformation. In yet another embodiment, the probes are non-overlapping. In yet another embodiment, probe hybridization occurs in the cell nucleus. In yet another embodiment, the cell is a living cell. In yet another embodiment, the target sequences of RNA are endogenous RNA. In yet another embodiment, the cell is a mammalian cell, an invertebrate cell, a yeast cell or a bacterium. In yet another embodiment, the cell is a human cell. In yet another embodiment, the cell is a cancer cell. In yet another embodiment, the targeted RNA is mRNA. In yet another embodiment, the targeted mRNA sequence is at least a portion of an intron of the mRNA sequence. In yet another embodiment, the targeted RNA is non-coding RNA (ncRNA).

The present invention also relates to an assay for determining the structural conformation of a chromosome in a cell. The assay includes the hybridization of a plurality of target sequences of mRNA in the cell with members of a plurality of fluorescently labeled oligonucleotide probe sets, wherein each probe set utilizes a distinguishable color, the plurality of targeted sequences of mRNA are transcribed from portions of at least one chromosome, and the pattern of fluorescently labeled probes hybridized to the target sequences of mRNA is indicative of the structural conformation of the chromosome. In one embodiment, the assay includes the location of the hybridized probes is simultaneously indicative of the chromosomal location of gene expression for the transcribed mRNA. In another embodiment, the number, the intensity, or both, of fluorescing probes is indicative of the level of gene expression at the chromosomal location. In yet another embodiment, the assay includes the step of counting fluorescent spots corresponding to single molecules of target mRNA to obtain a gene expression profile corresponding to the simultaneously determined, associated chromosomal conformation. In yet another embodiment, the probes are non-overlapping. In yet another embodiment, probe hybridization occurs in the cell nucleus. In yet another embodiment, the cell is a living cell. In yet another embodiment, the target sequences of mRNA are transcribed from an endogenous gene. In yet another embodiment, the cell is a mammalian cell, an invertebrate cell, a yeast cell or a bacterium. In yet another embodiment, the cell is a human cell. In yet another embodiment, the cell is a cancer cell. In yet another embodiment, the targeted mRNA sequence is at least a portion of an intron of the mRNA sequence.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there are depicted in the drawings certain embodiments of the invention. However, the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities of the embodiments depicted in the drawings.

FIG. 1, comprising FIGS. 1A-1C, depicts the detection of chromosome structure and gene expression in single cells. FIG. 1A depicts introns labeled at the site of transcription, yielding information about both the target gene's location and expression level. By employing a barcoded color scheme (with pseudocolors), dozens, or even hundreds of individual genes can be detected along a chromosome. FIG. 1B depicts 18 genes targeted on chromosome 19. The first third of the chromosome is in red, the middle third in green and the last third in magenta. Both chromosomes are similarly configured in the nucleus, with the first third residing in between the middle and the final thirds. FIG. 1C depicts simultaneously targeted chromosome 19 (cyan) and EEF2 messenger RNA (magenta) in the same cell, demonstrating the ability to detect chromosomes, genes and single RNA molecules at the same time in single cells.

FIG. 2, comprising FIGS. 2A and 2B, is a depiction of a single molecule detection of chromosomal translocations and the resultant fusion transcript. FIG. 2A depicts transcripts of a normal cell and fusion transcripts of a cancer cell. By labeling both ends of the fusion with individual colors, fusion transcripts can be directly detected in situ at the same time as detecting the causative chromosomal abnormality (FIG. 2B).

FIG. 3, comprising FIGS. 3A-3I, depicts a demonstration of a pseudo-coloring scheme for measuring transcriptional activity and position of 20 genes at once. FIG. 3A depicts a scheme for uniquely labeling several different genes along a chromosome within a single cell by using combinations of fluorophores for the oligonucleotides. FIG. 3B depicts a scheme to uniquely label 20 different genes using combinations of 2 or 3 fluorophores from a palette of 5 spectrally distinct fluorophores. FIG. 3C depicts a DAPI stain of the nucleus. FIGS. 3D-3H depict raw fluorescence images in the 5 true color channels for 20 genes labeled with the pseudocoloring scheme in FIG. 3B. FIG. 3I depicts the DAPI image of the nucleus overlaid with the resultant computationally identified pseudocolored spots. The color of the spots depicts where upon the chromosome the particular gene is located.

FIG. 4, comprising FIGS. 4A-4C, depicts a scheme for measuring transcription directly from translocated chromosomes. FIG. 4A depicts a diagram showing the karyotype of chromosome 19 in HeLa cells, which contain two intact copies of chromosome 19 and one copy that has been split, with one section fused to chromosome 13 and the other fuesd to chromosome 6. FIG. 4B depicts the measurement of instantaneous transcriptional activity on a per chromosome basis through the isolation of individual chromosomes and chromosome fragments. FIG. 4C depicts a chart showing measured transcriptional activity for 20 genes along chromosome 19. The transcription rate for the genes on the portion of chromosome 19 fused to chromosome 13 was found to be highter than the genes of the intact chromosome 19, while the portion of chromosome 19 that is fused to chromosome 6 was found to transcribe about as often as those on the intact chromosome 19.

FIG. 5, comprising FIG. 5A-5D, depict live imaging of an endogenous RNA molecule. FIG. 5A depicts a live Drosophila melanogaster S2 cell, wherein the nucleus and the roX2 RNA are as marked, in which probes have been delivered against roX2 to the cell. FIG. 5B depicts the DAPI (nucleus) of these S2 cells after fixation. FIG. 5C depicts FISH signals corresponding to roX2 in the same fixed cells as in FIG. 5B. FIG. 5D depicts the live imaging signal remaining in the same fixed cells as in FIGS. 5B-5C.

FIG. 6, comprising FIGS. 6A-6B, depicts a demonstration of the detection of an endogenous RNA transcription site with probes delivered to living cells. Specifically, RNA from the MtnA gene has been targeted. FIG. 6A depicts spots corresponding to transcription sites of MMA targeted by the probe. FIG. 6B depicts the same MtnA transcripts labeled with RNA FISH probes after fixation. The strong colocalization shows that the correct transcripts are being targeted.

FIG. 7 depicts the rapid degradation over time of intronic RNA spots in HeLa cells through the inhibition of transcription by Actinomycin D. Virtually all of the intronic RNA disappeared or greatly diminished in intensity after 30 minutes of Actinomycin D exposure. Mature mRNA was observed at all timepoints, indicating that the cells were still alive and that the treatment did not affect the RNA itself. Altogether, the results show that the intronic RNA degrades rapidly; thus, the presence of an intronic RNA spot indicates that the targeted gene is transcriptionally active.

FIG. 8 depicts how labeling Cyclin A2 mRNA enables detection of cells in the S, G2, and M phases of the cell cycle. Click-iT EdU was incubated into the cells before fixation to demonstrate that high expressing cells were in the S-M phase, finding that every cell displaying Click-iT EdU signal had high levels of Cyclin A2 mRNA. This result shows that Cyclin A2 mRNA provides a strong marker for certain phases of the cell-cycle. Cells with low levels of Cyclin A2 were selected for the study as they had not undergone replication.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to systems and methods for measuring chromosome structure and gene expression. In one embodiment, the present invention includes an assay for determining the spatial organization of gene expression in the nucleus. The assay can be used in conjunction with computational and analytical frameworks. In another embodiment, the assay can be used for determining the role spatial organization of gene expression plays in disease.

The present invention also includes a method based on fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) that simultaneously yields information on the physical position and expression of individual genes. By lighting up a large number of targets on a particular chromosome using a bar-coding scheme, the large scale structure of an entire chromosome can be determined. In one embodiment, the method includes measuring the expression of particular or selected genes while simultaneously determining chromosomal structure, providing a meso-scale “in situ positional expression array”. The methods of the present invention can also be compared with biophysical models of chromosome structure, while also developing analytical tools for understanding the relationship between structure and gene expression. The present invention can also be used in vivo and thus provides for the detection of both a detailed dynamic description of chromosome structure together with the expression of many genes in living cells, where large numbers of chromosomal loci can be detected in live human cells and subject them to time-lapse microscopic analysis. Thus, the present invention relates to a barcoded RNA FISH method that targets DNA loci across the chromosome, effectively yielding data on chromosome structure and the expression of many genes simultaneously.

DEFINITIONS

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, the preferred methods and materials are described.

As used herein, each of the following terms has the meaning associated with it in this section.

The articles “a” and “an” are used herein to refer to one or to more than one (i.e., to at least one) of the grammatical object of the article. By way of example, “an element” means one element or more than one element.

“About” as used herein when referring to a measurable value such as an amount, a temporal duration, and the like, is meant to encompass variations of ±20% or ±10%, more preferably ±5%, even more preferably ±1%, and still more preferably ±0.1% from the specified value, as such variations are appropriate to perform the disclosed methods.

“Encoding” refers to the inherent property of specific sequences of nucleotides in a polynucleotide, such as a gene, a cDNA, or an mRNA, to serve as templates for synthesis of other polymers and macromolecules in biological processes having either a defined sequence of nucleotides (i.e., rRNA, tRNA and mRNA) or a defined sequence of amino acids and the biological properties resulting there from. Thus, a gene encodes a protein if transcription and translation of mRNA corresponding to that gene produces the protein in a cell or other biological system. Both the coding strand, the nucleotide sequence of which is identical to the mRNA sequence and is usually provided in sequence listings, and the non-coding strand, used as the template for transcription of a gene or cDNA, can be referred to as encoding the protein or other product of that gene or cDNA.

“Homologous” as used herein, refers to the subunit sequence similarity between two polymeric molecules, e.g., between two nucleic acid molecules, e.g., two DNA molecules or two RNA molecules, or between two polypeptide molecules. When a subunit position in both of the two molecules is occupied by the same monomeric subunit, e.g., if a position in each of two DNA molecules is occupied by adenine, then they are homologous at that position. The homology between two sequences is a direct function of the number of matching or homologous positions, e.g., if half (e.g., five positions in a polymer ten subunits in length) of the positions in two compound sequences are homologous then the two sequences are 50% homologous, if 90% of the positions, e.g., 9 of 10, are matched or homologous, the two sequences share 90% homology. By way of example, the DNA sequences 3′-ATTGCC-5′ and 3′-TATGGC-5′ share 75% homology.

As used herein, the terms “gene” and “recombinant gene” refer to nucleic acid molecules comprising an open reading frame encoding a polypeptide of the invention. Such natural allelic variations can typically result in 1-5% variance in the nucleotide sequence of a given gene. Alternative alleles can be identified by sequencing the gene of interest in a number of different individuals. This can be readily carried out by using hybridization probes to identify the same genetic locus in a variety of individuals. Any and all such nucleotide variations and resulting amino acid polymorphisms or variations that are the result of natural allelic variation and that do not alter the functional activity are intended to be within the scope of the invention.

A “coding region” of a gene consists of the nucleotide residues of the coding strand of the gene and the nucleotides of the non-coding strand of the gene which are homologous with or complementary to, respectively, the coding region of an mRNA molecule which is produced by transcription of the gene.

A “coding region” of an mRNA molecule also consists of the nucleotide residues of the mRNA molecule which are matched with an anti-codon region of a transfer RNA molecule during translation of the mRNA molecule or which encode a stop codon. The coding region may thus include nucleotide residues corresponding to amino acid residues which are not present in the mature protein encoded by the mRNA molecule (e.g., amino acid residues in a protein export signal sequence).

“Encoding” refers to the inherent property of specific sequences of nucleotides in a polynucleotide, such as a gene, a cDNA, or an mRNA, to serve as templates for synthesis of other polymers and macromolecules in biological processes having either a defined sequence of nucleotides (i.e., rRNA, tRNA and mRNA) or a defined sequence of amino acids and the biological properties resulting therefrom. Thus, a gene encodes a protein if transcription and translation of mRNA corresponding to that gene produces the protein in a cell or other biological system. Both the coding strand, the nucleotide sequence of which is identical to the mRNA sequence and is usually provided in sequence listings, and the non-coding strand, used as the template for transcription of a gene or cDNA, can be referred to as encoding the protein or other product of that gene or cDNA.

Unless otherwise specified, a “nucleotide sequence encoding an amino acid sequence” includes all nucleotide sequences that are degenerate versions of each other and that encode the same amino acid sequence. Nucleotide sequences that encode proteins and RNA may include introns.

An “isolated nucleic acid” refers to a nucleic acid segment or fragment which has been separated from sequences which flank it in a naturally occurring state, e.g., a DNA fragment which has been removed from the sequences which are normally adjacent to the fragment, e.g., the sequences adjacent to the fragment in a genome in which it naturally occurs. The term also applies to nucleic acids, which have been substantially purified from other components, which naturally accompany the nucleic acid, e.g., RNA or DNA or proteins, which naturally accompany it in the cell. The term therefore includes, for example, a recombinant DNA which is incorporated into a vector, into an autonomously replicating plasmid or virus, or into the genomic DNA of a prokaryote or eukaryote, or which exists as a separate molecule (e.g., as a cDNA or a genomic or cDNA fragment produced by PCR or restriction enzyme digestion) independent of other sequences. It also includes a recombinant DNA, which is part of a hybrid gene encoding additional polypeptide sequence.

A “disease” is a state of health of an animal, preferably a mammal and more preferably, a human, wherein the animal cannot maintain homeostasis, and wherein if the disease is not ameliorated then the animal's health continues to deteriorate.

In contrast, a “disorder” in an animal is a state of health in which the animal is able to maintain homeostasis, but in which the animal's state of health is less favorable than it would be in the absence of the disorder. Left untreated, a disorder does not necessarily cause a further decrease in the animal's state of health.

A disease or disorder is “alleviated” if the severity of a symptom of the disease or disorder, the frequency with which such a symptom is experienced by a patient, or both, is reduced.

An “effective amount” or “therapeutically effective amount” of a compound is that amount of compound which is sufficient to provide a beneficial effect to the subject to which the compound is administered. An “effective amount” of a delivery vehicle is that amount sufficient to effectively bind or deliver a compound.

As used herein, the term “fragment,” as applied to a nucleic acid, refers to a subsequence of a larger nucleic acid. A “fragment” of a nucleic acid can be at least about 15 nucleotides in length; for example, at least about 50 nucleotides to about 100 nucleotides; at least about 100 to about 500 nucleotides, at least about 500 to about 1000 nucleotides, at least about 1000 nucleotides to about 1500 nucleotides; or about 1500 nucleotides to about 2500 nucleotides; or about 2500 nucleotides (and any integer value in between).

As used herein, the term “fragment,” as applied to a protein or peptide, refers to a subsequence of a larger protein or peptide. A “fragment” of a protein or peptide can be at least about 20 amino acids in length; for example at least about 50 amino acids in length; at least about 100 amino acids in length, at least about 200 amino acids in length, at least about 300 amino acids in length, and at least about 400 amino acids in length (and any integer value in between).

A “portion” of a polynucleotide means at least at least about fifteen to about fifty sequential nucleotide residues of the polynucleotide. It is understood that a portion of a polynucleotide may include every nucleotide residue of the polynucleotide.

As used herein, an “instructional material” includes a publication, a recording, a diagram, or any other medium of expression which can be used to communicate the usefulness of a compound, composition, vector, or delivery system of the invention in the kit for effecting alleviation of the various diseases or disorders recited herein. Optionally, or alternately, the instructional material can describe one or more methods of alleviating the diseases or disorders in a cell or a tissue of a mammal. The instructional material of the kit of the invention can, for example, be affixed to a container which contains the identified compound, composition, vector, or delivery system of the invention or be shipped together with a container which contains the identified compound, composition, vector, or delivery system. Alternatively, the instructional material can be shipped separately from the container with the intention that the instructional material and the compound be used cooperatively by the recipient.

“Isolated” means altered or removed from the natural state. For example, a nucleic acid or a peptide naturally present in a living animal is not “isolated,” but the same nucleic acid or peptide partially or completely separated from the coexisting materials of its natural state is “isolated.” An isolated nucleic acid or protein can exist in substantially purified form, or can exist in a non-native environment such as, for example, a host cell.

“Naturally occurring” as used herein describes a composition that can be found in nature as distinct from being artificially produced. For example, a nucleotide sequence present in an organism, which can be isolated from a source in nature and which has not been intentionally modified by a person in the laboratory, is naturally occurring.

Unless otherwise specified, a “nucleotide sequence encoding an amino acid sequence” includes all nucleotide sequences that are degenerate versions of each other and that encode the same amino acid sequence. The phrase nucleotide sequence that encodes a protein or an RNA may also include introns to the extent that the nucleotide sequence encoding the protein may in some version contain an intron(s).

The term “polynucleotide” as used herein is defined as a chain of nucleotides. Furthermore, nucleic acids are polymers of nucleotides. Thus, nucleic acids and polynucleotides as used herein are interchangeable. One skilled in the art has the general knowledge that nucleic acids are polynucleotides, which can be hydrolyzed into the monomeric “nucleotides,” The monomeric nucleotides can be hydrolyzed into nucleosides. As used herein polynucleotides include, but are not limited to, all nucleic acid sequences which are obtained by any means available in the art, including, without limitation, recombinant means, i.e., the cloning of nucleic acid sequences from a recombinant library or a cell genome, using ordinary cloning technology and PCR™, and the like, and by synthetic means.

As used herein, the terms “peptide,” “polypeptide,” and “protein” are used interchangeably, and refer to a compound comprised of amino acid residues covalently linked by peptide bonds. A protein or peptide must contain at least two amino acids, and no limitation is placed on the maximum number of amino acids that can comprise a protein's or peptide's sequence. Polypeptides include any peptide or protein comprising two or more amino acids joined to each other by peptide bonds. As used herein, the term refers to both short chains, which also commonly are referred to in the art as peptides, oligopeptides and oligomers, for example, and to longer chains, which generally are referred to in the art as proteins, of which there are many types. “Polypeptides” include, for example, biologically active fragments, substantially homologous polypeptides, oligopeptides, homodimers, heterodimers, variants of polypeptides, modified polypeptides, derivatives, analogs, fusion proteins, among others. The polypeptides include natural peptides, recombinant peptides, synthetic peptides, or a combination thereof.

The terms “patient,” “subject,” “individual,” and the like are used interchangeably herein, and refer to any animal, or cells thereof whether in vitro or in situ, amenable to the methods described herein. Preferably, the patient, subject or individual is a mammal, and more preferable, a human.

The term “treatment” as used within the context of the present invention is meant to include therapeutic treatment as well as prophylactic, or suppressive measures for the disease or disorder. Thus, for example, the term treatment includes the administration of an agent prior to or following the onset of a disease or disorder thereby preventing or removing all signs of the disease or disorder. As another example, administration of the agent after clinical manifestation of the disease to combat the symptoms of the disease comprises “treatment” of the disease.

A “therapeutic” treatment is a treatment administered to a subject who exhibits signs of pathology, for the purpose of diminishing or eliminating those signs.

As used herein, “treating a disease or disorder” means reducing the frequency with which a symptom of the disease or disorder is experienced by a patient. Disease and disorder are used interchangeably herein.

“Variant” as the term is used herein, is a nucleic acid sequence or a peptide sequence that differs in sequence from a reference nucleic acid sequence or peptide sequence respectively, but retains essential properties of the reference molecule, Changes in the sequence of a nucleic acid variant may not alter the amino acid sequence of a peptide encoded by the reference nucleic acid, or may result in amino acid substitutions, additions, deletions, fusions and truncations. Changes in the sequence of peptide variants are typically limited or conservative, so that the sequences of the reference peptide and the variant are closely similar overall and, in many regions, identical. A variant and reference peptide can differ in amino acid sequence by one or more substitutions, additions, deletions in any combination. A variant of a nucleic acid or peptide can be a naturally occurring such as an allelic variant, or can be a variant that is not known to occur naturally. Non-naturally occurring variants of nucleic acids and peptides may be made by mutagenesis techniques or by direct synthesis.

For sequence comparison, typically one sequence acts as a reference sequence, to which test sequences may be compared. When using a sequence comparison algorithm, test and reference sequences are input into a computer, subsequent coordinates are designated, if necessary, and sequence algorithm program parameters are designated. The sequence comparison algorithm then calculates the percentage sequence identity for the test sequence(s) relative to the reference sequence, based on the designated program parameters.

Ranges: throughout this disclosure, various aspects of the invention can be presented in a range format. It should be understood that the description in range format is merely for convenience and brevity and should not be construed as an inflexible limitation on the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the description of a range should be considered to have specifically disclosed all the possible subranges as well as individual numerical values within that range. For example, description of a range such as from 1 to 6 should be considered to have specifically disclosed subranges such as from 1 to 3, from 1 to 4, from 1 to 5, from 2 to 4, from 2 to 6, from 3 to 6 etc., as well as individual numbers within that range, for example, 1, 2, 2.7, 3, 4, 5, 5.3, and 6. This applies regardless of the breadth of the range.

DESCRIPTION

The systems and methods of the present invention allow one to illuminate directly the structure and function of a living cell's nucleus in real-time through the use of fluorescence based tools, then use those tools to construct a comprehensive, quantitative model of the relationship between structure and function. Applications for the present invention are many, and can provide greater understanding of disease and clinical diagnosis.

The present invention combines the richness of single molecule imaging data, which gives very high quality data on the abundance, locations and dynamics of biomolecules, with the ability to generate more global biological panoramas by measuring the expression and positions of multiple genes, including tens and even hundreds of genes, at the same time, while also performing systematic genome-wide perturbations. Further, the generation and analysis of intracellular spatial information represents a new direction in systems biology, given that the vast majority of studies to date concentrate mostly on overall mRNA or protein abundance. Using the system and methods of the present invention, spatial maps of chromosome structure can be generated, and can create a new paradigm in the understanding of the biological importance of spatial organization.

In the case of the in situ experiments described herein, the present invention leaves the system unperturbed in the sense that no genetic modifications are required. This enables swift and broad adoption in a variety of contexts, and in particular can enhance the potential to use the system and methods of the present invention in clinical diagnostics.

Measuring Gene Expression and Determination of Chromosomal Structure

The present invention includes systems and methods for determining the spatial organization of gene expression in the nucleus. Spatial control of chromosome structure is a critical regulating feature in the control of gene expression, as it can influence variability in gene expression from cell to cell. Spatial control of chromosome structure can even provide a structural basis for the coordination of gene network modules within the nucleus. The present invention, in combination with computational and analytical frameworks, can further provide a new basis for incorporating spatial information in understanding regulation and organization of genetic information, and can greatly expand the understanding of the role spatial organization of gene expression plays in disease and clinical diagnosis.

The present invention utilizes direct visualization, quantitative measurements, and analytical and computational modeling to elucidate biological function. In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method based on fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) that simultaneously yields information on the physical position and expression of individual genes.

For example, by lighting up a large number of these targets on a particular chromosome at the same time using a bar-coding scheme, one can effectively read out the large scale structure of an entire chromosome while also measuring the expression of those genes, providing a meso-scale “in situ positional expression array” (FIG. 1A). In one embodiment, the number of targets can be in the range of about 1-1000 unique targets. In another embodiment, the number of targets can be in the range of about 5-200 unique targets. In yet another embodiment, the number of targets can be in the range of about 10-100 unique targets. Alternatively, the number of targets can be greater than 1000, greater than 5000, or even greater than 10,000.

In one embodiment, these targeted regions correspond to the location of a gene on a particular chromosome. The method of the present invention permits the simultaneous labeling of many genes and gene locations at the same time, effectively “painting” target chromosomes. In one embodiment, the number of genes that can be simultaneously labeled may be between 1-100. In another embodiment, the number of labeled genes can be between 5-50. In yet another embodiment, the number of labeled genes can be between 10-30. For example, the transcription site of 20 unique genes along a single chromosome in a single cell can be detected using color-coded probes as described elsewhere herein (FIGS. 1 and 4). In another embodiment, these spot data for 20 genes can be used to reconstruct chromosome conformations of actively transcribing genes (FIG. 4). The present invention provides a false spot identification rate below 10%, preferably below 5%, and even more preferably below 4%, below 3%, below 2%, and even below 1%.

The present invention includes methods of measuring gene expression. The presence or absence of a spot for a particular gene indicates whether the gene is actively transcribing at a particular moment in time. Not every gene expresses in every cell because transcription is itself a pulsatile process. In one embodiment, the overall rate of transcription of a particular gene can be determined by quantifying both (or either of) the frequency with which a spot is observed over an ensemble of cells or the intensity of the observed spots. Through spatial chromosome segregation, the location of each spot, and therefore each gene or portion thereof, can be assigned to a particular chromosome. By repeating this process for a large number of cells, the transcriptional frequency and gene expression (which is proportional to the rate of transcription) can be determined on a per-chromosome basis. Thus, the present invention provides a mechanism to measure gene expression from particular chromosomes.

In another embodiment, gene expression can be measured for a chromosomal fragment. In yet another embodiment, gene expression can be measured for a chromosomal fragment resulting from translocated chromosomes. For example, a translocated chromosomal fragment can be compared to the intact copy of the chromosome to determine whether gene expression of the chromosomal fragment is the same or different.

The present invention also includes methods of profiling gene expression on a per-chromosome basis. This allows for analysis of chromosome-copy-specific expression levels, and, thus, a method for SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) expression analysis in single cells, which to date has been very difficult to accomplish. For example, in normal cells, the difference between the maternal and paternal copies of a chromosome is determined by imprinted genes. These genes, of which only a small number have been isolated by scientists, have been shown to transcribe only from either the maternal or paternal copy, but never both. Such genes can be used as markers to determine which copy of a particular chromosome of interest is the maternal copy and which is the paternal copy. In one embodiment, gene expression can be measured for imprinted genes. For example, using imprinted genes as markers can determine which copy of a particular chromosome is the maternal copy and which is the paternal copy.

The methods of the present invention can also be compared with biophysical models of chromosome structure, while also developing analytical tools for understanding the relationship between structure and gene expression. As demonstrated herein, chromosomes can adopt a wide variety of configurations, and these configurations are related to gene expression (FIG. 1B). To probe the molecular mechanisms underlying the patterns observed, an RNAi screening platform can be used to search for proteins that affect spatial aspects of gene expression, establishing a new bar of sophistication in the use of imaging in large-scale screening.

Data generated by the systems and methods of the present invention can further be coupled with quantitative analysis. For example, image analysis software can be used to facilitate the accurate extraction of both position and expression values from microscope data. Once processed, one level of analysis is to simply analyze the configuration space of actively expressed genes on a chromosome. Existing models primarily focus on polymer models of chromosome structure, consisting of random walk, random loop and globule descriptions (Lieberman-Aiden et al., 2009, Science 326: 289-293; Cook et al., 2009, J Cell Biol 186: 825-834). While data generated via the present invention will certainly inform such models, the ability to generate and correlate positional data with gene expression data can add an important new dimension to such models, which generally do not incorporate information about transcriptional status. Thus, the present invention provides a platform and method to test hypotheses about deviations from null models in which expression does not correlate with structure, i.e., whether certain genes express only when the chromosome adopts certain conformations.

Applications to Living Cells and Disease

The present invention can also be used in living cells. Through the development and application of new in vivo nucleic acid detection techniques, large numbers of chromosomal loci can be detected in live human cells and subjected to time-lapse microscopic analysis. Thus, the present invention provides for the detection of both a detailed dynamic description of chromosome structure together with the expression of many genes in living cells, marking a huge advance in the field. The present invention can also have broad impact in other fields as well. For example, the direct visualization of nuclear structure and gene expression can include applications in developmental systems, such as C. elegans.

The present invention also includes methods for live imaging in cells. For example, a live imaging probe can be delivered into live cells, and the probe signals can then be detected using methods described herein. In one embodiment, the live imaging probe contains about 1-100 labeled oligonucleotides. In another embodiment, the probe contains about 4-50 labeled oligonucleotides. The signals can then be verified by RNA FISH methods as described herein. Non-limiting examples of the application of live imaging methods include detection of endogenous RNA in single living cells or determination of chromosome structure. As contemplated herein, applications of the present invention to human disease include the ability to identify the formation of stereotypical chromosomal translocations in cancer. Given the widespread occurrence of gene fusions in cancer and the directness of the methods of the present invention, a much deeper understanding of the mechanisms by which translocations are produced can be had. The non-perturbative nature of the present invention also means that these methods can also be applied to tissue sections, conceivably resulting in improved molecular diagnostic tools via the detailed examination of translocations in tumors. More generally, the ways in which translocations affect gene expression can be elucidated and establish the structure/function relationship as a biomarker for disease.

For example, the present invention can be applied to frozen and paraffin embedded tissue samples, representing a crucial step towards clinical viability. By studying the dynamics of the translocation itself along with the induced differences in gene expression at the single molecule level, the genesis of specific translocations and how they influence the expression of the relevant fusion transcripts can be determined. The present invention may also be used as or in conjunction with clinical diagnostics and new assays for screening compounds. Thus, the present invention provides for a better understanding of how the structure of the nucleus affects gene expression by directly visualizing nuclear processes in fixed and living cells.

RNA FISH Method

The present invention includes use of a highly sensitive and specific RNA FISH method to label the introns of genes, as shown in FIG. 1A. Additional description and explanation of RNA FISH methodologies can be found in copending patent application publication number WO/2010/030818, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein it its entirety.

Introns are typically degraded shortly after transcription before they have a chance to move away from the site of transcription itself. When targeted by the RNA FISH method of the present invention, a spot can be seen in the microscope that yields two pieces of information. First, the brightness, or the presence or absence, of the spot is related to the instantaneous rate of transcription, and the location of the spot gives the position of the gene, accurate to lengths below that of the diffraction limit of the microscope. This method further involves the designing of probes for the simultaneous labeling of dozens and even hundreds of introns spaced along a single chromosome, thereby creating a three-dimensional “pointillist painting” of the chromosome, with each individual point corresponding to a single gene.

For example, about 1-1000 different probes, each labeled with a similar or different fluorophore, are hybridized simultaneously to a target sequence of a nucleotide molecule, such as an RNA molecule. In certain embodiments, the number of probes can range from 4-100, from 10-80, from 15-70, or from 20-60. A fluorescent spot is created that can be detected from the combined fluorescence of the multiple probes. The probes can be non-overlapping, meaning that the region of the target sequence to which each probe hybridizes is unique (or at least non-overlapping). Probes in a set of 2 or more for a selected target sequence can be designed to hybridize adjacently to one another or to hybridize non-adjacently, with stretches of the target sequence, from one nucleotide to a hundred nucleotides or more, not complementary to any of the probes.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a method for probing a target sequence of nucleic acid molecules such as, for example, RNAs in a fixed, permeabilized cell, or a living cell, said target sequence including at least 2 non-overlapping probe binding regions of 15-100 nucleotides. The method can include the steps of immersing the cell in an excess of at least 30 nucleic acid hybridization probes, each singly labeled with a fluorescent label and each containing a nucleic acid sequence that is complementary to a different probe binding region of the target sequence, washing the cell to remove unbound probes, and detecting fluorescence from the probes.

Probes useful in this invention may be DNA, RNA or mixtures of DNA and RNA. They may include non-natural nucleotides, and they may include non-natural internucleotide linkages. Non-natural nucleotides that increase the binding affinity of probes include 2′-O-methyl ribonucleotides, for example. The lengths of probes useful in this invention can be about 15-40 nucleotides for typical DNA or RNA probes of average binding affinity. Preferred lengths of DNA probes and RNA probes are in the range of about 15-20 nucleotides, more preferably 17-25 nucleotides and even more preferably 17-22 nucleotides. In certain embodiments, the probes are about 20 nucleotides long. If means are included to increase a probe's binding affinity, the probe can be shorter, as short as seven nucleotides, as persons in the art will appreciate. A fluorophore can be attached to a probe at any position, including, without limitation, attaching a fluorophore to one end of a probe, preferably to the 3′ end. The probes may be included in a hybridization solution that contains the multiple probes in excess, commonly in the range of 0.2-1 nanograms per microliter. Sufficient solution is added to cover and wet the cell so that the cell is immersed in the probe-containing solution. In another embodiment, the fluorophores can be incorporated into the probesn during automated DNA synthesis.

A single cell can be probed simultaneously for multiple RNA target sequences, either more than one target sequence of one RNA molecule, or one or more sequences of different RNA molecules. Additionally, one target sequence of an RNA molecule can be probed with more than one set of probes, wherein each set is labeled with a distinguishable fluorophore, and the fluorophores are distinguishable. For example, in probing a gene sequence, at least 2 green-labeled probes can be used to probe one portion of the gene sequence as its target sequence, and at least 2 red-labeled probes can be used to probe a different portion of the gene sequence as its target sequence. Using more than one color for each of multiple targets permits the use of color-coding schemes in highly multiplexed probing methods, according to the present invention.

Methods of the present invention may also include determining if one or more spots representing a target sequence are present. Methods according to the present invention also include counting spots of a given color corresponding to a given RNA species. When it is desired to detect more than one species of RNA, different sets of probes labeled with distinct fluorophores can be used in the same hybridization mixture. A gene expression profile for each species of RNA is constructed by counting spots of different colors.

Spots can be detected utilizing microscopic methods. It is not necessary to use a confocal microscope, as a wide-field fluorescence microscope is sufficient. To distinguish spots that positively reflect a target sequence from dim spots that may reflect background fluorescence or nonspecific binding, methods according to this invention include detection. In one embodiment, the detection comprises filtering images with a three-dimensional linear Laplacian of Gaussian filter and applying a detection threshold. If one plots the number of spots in three dimensions for all thresholds ranging from zero to the maximum pixel intensity in the filtered image, there is a wide plateau, indicative of a region in which the number of spots detected is insensitive to threshold. Thus, the method further comprises plotting the number of spots, determining the boundaries of a plateau region, and selecting the threshold preferably within that region.

In another aspect, the present invention includes sets of probes for in situ hybridization that enable detection of individual RNA molecules in cells. The probes render each molecule so intensely fluorescent that it can be seen as a fine fluorescent spot in fluorescence microscopy. A computer program can be used to identify and count all the RNA molecules in the cell from the microscopic image. In situ hybridizations performed with the sets of probes described above allow accurate and simple chromosomal structural analysis, gene expression analysis, detection of pathogens and pathogenic states such as cancer.

In yet another aspect, the invention provides a computer readable medium, including instructions for obtaining a 3-D stack of 2-D fluorescent images, filtering the 3-D stack using a 3-D filter, counting a total number of 3-D spots in the filtered 3-D stack for each of a plurality of intensity thresholds, obtaining an optimum intensity threshold representative of a plateau region in a plot of the total number of 3-D spots verses the intensity threshold at which the total number was counted, and using the total number of 3-D spots obtained at the optimum threshold as representative of a number of fluorescing particles detected in the 3-D stack.

In yet another aspect, the invention provides software implementing the thresholding algorithm as described above. In one embodiment, the thresholding is accomplished using three dimensional linear Laplacian of Gaussian filter.

The invention also provides a kit, generally comprising a set of probes, an instruction manual for performing any of the methods contemplated herein, and optionally the computer-readable media as described herein.

Chromosomal Barcoding

In another aspect of the present invention, multicolor FISH can be used to distinguish the expression of each individual gene in the ensemble by using a barcoding scheme, as depicted in FIG. 1A. This provides the ability to discriminate three fluorescent colors in the microscope, further provides the ability to distinguish up to 5 colors of RNA at the same time. In other embodiments, the palette of colors can be expanded by using combinations of 5 basic colors to yield as many as 31 effective colors. It should be appreciated that the present invention is not limited by any particular number of colors, and therefore the systems and methods of the present invention can utilize any type and number of distinguishable colors available, either as separate colors or via the combination of colors. Additionally, use of multicolor FISH allows for an increase in the number of genes uniquely targeted by using a barcoding scheme to label the chromosomes. For example, by labeling each spot using a non-repetitive sequence of colors (e.g., RRGRRBBG . . . ) and using the spatial proximity of the spots as a guide, the code allow one to “connect the dots” within the nucleus, and both uniquely identify each individual gene's location and expression level. In other embodiments, the code can be constructed in such a way as to tolerate “holes” in the code due to variable expression of the targeted genes. This method can provide expression patterns for hundreds of genes, constituting a form of “in situ microarray”. In other embodiments, groups of genes organized by either location or function can be colored, depending on the biological question at hand.

Using RNAi Screening to Determine the Molecular Basis of Nuclear Structure

The system and methods of the present invention provide a compact assay for measuring chromosome structure and gene expression. In order to obtain a comprehensive view of underlying molecular mechanisms, every gene can be systematically perturbed and measure its effects by constructing an RNAi platform for analyzing high resolution FISH data. Such a platform allows for the creation of a global picture of the specific proteins responsible for the structural patterns observed in FISH data resulting from the system and methods of the present invention.

The ultimate success of an image-based RNAi screen depends on having a simple, reproducible assay and having the means to rapidly analyze the stream of data that the platform generates. The assay itself can be a version of the FISH based assay described herein, although simplified in such a way as to maximize information, while maximizing the robustness of the assay and minimizing the complexity of the analysis. For example, in one embodiment, an initial assay may include a few different regions of a chromosome labeled with different colors, providing data that is relatively simple to analyze and informative. The data acquisition itself can include an automated microscopic platform capable of meeting the requirements of high-resolution methods such as FISH. To this end, the ability of the RNA FISH method to detect subtle spatial differences in gene expression by FISH can be demonstrated in a 384-well plate format. In another embodiment, a computational platform can be included that is capable of storing and analyzing the large quantities of data that an RNAi screen generates.

While the present invention relates generally to assays involving chromosome structure, a high-throughput platform for screening coupled with single molecule microscopy can also be included. Applications for this may include the study of non-coding RNAs, which are thought to modify chromatin and thus affect chromosome structure. In one embodiment, the present invention includes an assay to measure ncRNA expression at the same time as chromosome structure, and then screen for proteins involved in mediating the response.

EXPERIMENTAL EXAMPLES

The invention is now described with reference to the following Examples. These Examples are provided for the purpose of illustration only and the invention should in no way be construed as being limited to these Examples, but rather should be construed to encompass any and all variations which become evident as a result of the teaching provided herein.

The following methods were used in performance of the experimental examples:

Cell Culture, Fixation, and Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization

Primary human foreskin fibroblasts (ATCC CRL 2097) or HeLa cells (gift from the lab of Phillip Sharp) were grown in Dulbeceo's modified eagle's medium with glutamax (DMEM, Life Technologies) supplemented with penicillin/streptomycin and 10% fetal bovine serum. Cells were enriched for G0/G1 phase cells through a double-thymidine block (2 μg/mL thymidine in medium) procedure and releasing for an appropriate amount of time before fixation. To fix the cells, the protocol of Raj et al. (Nat. Meth. 2008, 5, 877-879) was followed. Briefly, the cells were fixed using 4% formaldehyde/10% formalin in 1× phosphate buffered saline solution (PBS), followed by two rinses in 1×PBS, after which the cells were permeabilized with 70% EtOH and stored at 4° C. at least overnight.

To perform fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), the procedure of Raj et al. (Nat. Meth. 2008, 5, 877-879) was followed with some minor modifications. Prewashing was conducted with a wash buffer containing 10% formamide and 2× saline-sodium citrate (SSC), then hybridization was performed by adding the appropriate amount and type of probe (described later) in a buffer containing 10% formamide, 2×SSC and 10% dextran sulfate (W/V). Samples were hybridized overnight in a humidified chamber kept at 37° C., then washed twice for 30 minutes with wash buffer at 37° C. (adding DAPI at a concentration of 50 ng/mL in the second wash), and then imaged in 2×SSC as described below.

In the case of the experiments involving Actinomycin D, HeLa cells were incubated in 2 μg/mL of Actinomycin D (Sigma) for 0, 30, 60, and 120 minutes, after which the cells were fixed and FISH was performed as described in FIG. 7. The Actinomycin D was thoroughly mixed into the medium before being adding to avoid spatial inhomogeneity in the activity of the drug.

For the RNase experiments, the cells were fixed and permeabilized as outlined above, after which the 70% EtOH was aspirated, washed once with 1×PBS, followed by addition of 1×PBS with 10 μg/mL of RNase A (Sigma). The fixed cells were incubated at 37° C. for 30 minutes, washed with 1×PBS, and then FISH was performed as outlined above. As a control, the exact same procedure was performed on cells in a neighboring well, but RNase A was not added to the 1×PBS for the incubation.

Imaging and Image Analysis

All samples were imaged on a Nikon Ti-E inverted fluorescence microscope using a 100× Plan-Apo objective and a cooled CCD camera (Pixis 1024B from Princeton Instruments). Three-dimensional stacks of fluorescent images were sequentially acquired in 6 different fluorescent channels using filter sets for DAPI, Atto 488, Cy3, Alexa 594, Atto 647N, and Atto 700. The exposure times were roughly 2-3 seconds for most of the dyes except for DAPI (which was exposed for ˜100 ms) and Atto 700 (which was exposed for ˜5 seconds, due to somewhat weaker illumination on the apparatus). The spacing between consecutive planes in the stacks was 0.3 μm.

Once images were acquired, they were run through an image analysis pipeline made up of custom semi-automated spot recognition software written in MATLAB with the following series of steps:

1) Candidate spots were first identified in the three-dimensional image by filtering the image with a laplacian of gaussian filter, and taking the top 300 spots as candidates. In some cases, cells were chosen for analysis based on their phase in the cell-cycle. In those cases, cells were chosen that had little or no Cyclin A2 mRNAs. This approach has been validated by additional experiments (FIG. 8). 2) Each candidate was then fit to a Gaussian intensity profile, thereby giving precise estimates of the center, width, and intensity of the spot. 3) Based on histograms of the intensities and widths, a subset of the spots with qualities (uniform width, higher intensity) that were higher than background were manually selected. This is similar in spirit to the procedure described in Raj et al. (Nat. Meth. 2008, 5, 877-879), in which a threshold was chosen to separate legitimate RNA spots from background spots. In this case, spots that may have been background were included because the multi-color scheme for spot assignment provided another means by which to discard background spots. 4) Once the spots were selected, software was run that found the fiducial markers (in this case, probes in all 5 RNA colors targeting SuZ12 mRNA). In this manner, the displacements between different fluorescence channels in each cell could be measured individually. These shifts were then applied to align the computationally identified spots between the different fluorescence channels. 5) After alignment, software was run which looked for colocalized spots corresponding to the particular pseudocoloring scheme chosen for the targeted introns. It was estimated that the software is roughly 75% accurate in assigning colocalized spots to particular genes at this stage. 6) A manual correction process was carried out in which mistakes the software made in identifying spots were corrected. Common issues included failure to detect dim (but clearly present) signals in one of the fluorescent channels and resolving two spatially close fluorescent spots that the laplacian of gaussian filtering and candidate identification steps had labeled as a single spot. 7) Once the labeled introns of the gene loci had been correctly annotated, cells were examined manually to separate out individual chromosomes. Cells were discarded in which the chromosomes overlapped, which made it difficult to assign particular spots to particular chromosomes.

Karyotyping of HeLa Cells

G-band analysis (karyotyping) was performed on metaphase spreads of the HeLa cells following standard procedures. This indicated that the cells contained two intact copies of chromosome 19 and a full third copy of chromosome 19, which was split into two fragments and fused to other chromosomes. One fragment included the first half of the chromosome 19 p-arm and was fused to a large portion of chromosome 6. The second fragment was the remaining portion of chromosome 19 (half the p-arm through the centromere and entire q-arm), which was fused to the q-arm of chromosome 13. In order to conclusively demonstrate that chromosome 19 was split in this particular way, a DNA FISH analysis was performed on the same metaphase spreads on which the G-band analysis was performed. Probes targeting loci within the 19p13 and 19q13 regions on chromosome 19 were used, each labeled with a different fluorophore (Abbott Molecular). The results confirmed the results of the O-band analysis. This analysis was performed on 10 cells, each of which showed the same genetic abnormalities, indicating that the cells do not vary to a large degree in this particular characteristic from cell to cell.

Click-iT EdU Analysis of Cell Cycle Progression

In order to demonstrate that Cyclin A2 mRNA was an accurate marker of position in the cell cycle, the Click-iT EdU Alexa Fluor 594 Imaging kit (Invitrogen) was used, which incorporated a targetable chemical into newly replicated DNA. In this ease, cells were incubated with the 10 μM Click-iT EdU reagent for 5 minutes before the cells were fixed. The FISH protocol was performed on these cells using a Cyclin A2 mRNA Cy3 probe, and after hybridization and wash steps, the instructions provided with the kit were followed for fluorescently labeling the incorporated EdU.

Culturing of Drosophila S2 Cells

Drosophila S2 cells were obtained from ATCC and grown in Schneider's complete medium supplemented with 10% heat-inactivated fetal bovine serum, 2 mM L-glutamine and penicillin/streptomycin. The cells were subcultured by diluting 10-fold in fresh medium once every 3-4 days once the culture had reached confluency.

In experiments where MtnA expression was induced, copper sulfate was added to a final concentration of 1 mM to the cell medium and the cells were incubated for 5 hours before live imaging.

Design of Probes

20 base oligonucleotide probes were designed against introns using custom FISH design software (http://www.biosearchtech.com/stellarisdesigner/). Where possible, the design of 16 oligonucleotides targeting the first intron of the gene was attempted. The oligonucleotides were ordered from Biosearch Technologies (Novato, Calif.), who synthesized the oligonucleotides with amine groups attached to the 3′ end. These 3′ ends were coupled to various organic dyes (including Atto 488 (Atto-Tee), Cy3 (GE), Alexa 594 (Invitrogen), Atto 647N (Atto-Tec), and Atto 700 (Atto-Tec)) as indicated in the text and in Table 1. The probes were purified by HPLC as described in Raj et al. (Nat. Meth. 2008, 5, 877-879).

Probes Used for Live Imaging

All the probes used in the study were 20-mer single-stranded oligonucleotides synthesized with 2′O-methyl-modified nucleic acid backbones. All oligonucleotides have the tetramethylrhodamine (TAMRA) dye covalently attached to the 3′ end.

The specific sequences used for the oligonucleotides targeting roX2 RNA were (5′ to 3′) and are listed in Table 1. Also listed in Table 1 are the sequences for the oligonucleotides used to target the MtnA gene were (5′ to 3′)

Probes Used for FISH

FISH was performed using probes against the same target RNA as the live imaging probes, but with the oligonucleotides for FISH targeting different sequences within the target RNA to avoid competition between the probes. All of the oligonucleotides used for FISH were single stranded DNA oligonucleotides with a Cy5 fluorescent molecule covalently attached to the 3′ end (Cy5 was chosen because it is spectrally distinct from TAMRA, which was used for the live imaging probes). The sequences for the oligonucleotides used to target the roX2 RNA for FISH colocalization analysis are (5′ to 3′) and listed in Table 1.

The sequences for the oligonucleotides used to target the MtnA mRNA for FISH colocalization analysis are (5′ to 3′) and provided in Table 1.

Delivery of Live Imaging Oligonucleotides

The live imaging oligonucleotides specific to the target of interest were introduced into live Drosophila S2 cells via electroporation using the Neon transfection system (Invitrogen/Life Technologies). The live imaging oligonucleotide pool was added directly to the buffer containing the cells at a concentration of 0.8 uM per oligonucleotide, followed by microporation by essentially following the manufacturers instructions, using 4 pulses with width 5 ms and a voltage of 2000 V. The cells were microporated and then settled onto chambered coverslips coated with concanavalin A to promote cell adhesion. Imaging commenced after one hour.

Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH) Following Live Imaging

In these experiments, the live imaging probes were delivered as described above. After 6 hours, the cells were fixed following the protocol of Raj et al. (Nat. Meth. 2008, 5, 877-879).; briefly, the cells were fixed in 4% formaldehyde in 1× phosphate buffered saline (PBS) solution, washed twice in 1×PBS, and then permeabilized in 70% EtOH. After fixation, hybridization was carried out, adding roughly 0.2 ng/μl (total oligonucleotide concentration) of the FISH probe to hybridization solution, hybridizing for 1 hour and then washing twice with a wash buffer containing 2× saline-sodium citrate (SSC) and 10% formamide, adding DAPI to the second wash followed by washing. 2×SSC was added to the samples, which were then imaged as described below.

Live RNA Imaging

All samples were imaged on a Leica DMI6000B inverted fluorescence microscope using a 100× Plan-Apo objective and a cooled CCD camera (Pixis 1024B from Princeton Instruments). A filter set optimized for the TAMRA fluorophore was used, Exposure times of 2 s were used and the number of exposures was limited to 10 to avoid phototoxicity. In some cases, a series of optical sections corresponding to different focal planes (a z-stack) was acquired in order to fully image all parts of the cell; with 0.3 μM spacing between optical sections.

In the experiments where the live imaging probe and the FISH signal targeting the same RNA were simultaneously imaged, sequential z-stacks were acquired using filters that can distinguish TAMRA (live imaging probe) and Cy5 (FISH probe), thereby allowing colocalization of the signals,

TABLE 1 Probe Probe Sequence Organic Dye Sequence Number DHPS_int_1 ctagtaccgcgttggttcta ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 1 DHPS_int_2 cagagtgcaaaatccccttc ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 2 DHPS_int_3 taccgtaccagcatgtaact Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 3 DHPS_int_4 cacaccaagaatcagtcctc ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 4 DHPS_int_5 gcccattccagaaagcttta ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 5 DHPS_int_6 cctcccatatcctcccttaa Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 6 DHPS_int_7 tctaaattcaagaaccgccc ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 7 DHPS_int_8 atctcctttcagatccggtc ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 8 DHPS_int_9 ggctccagaaacagatttca Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 9 DHPS_int_10 taaatcccagactcaggact ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 10 DHPS_int_11 aagggccaagtcaagttaag ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 11 DHPS_int_12 ataactgcattgcccattga Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 12 DHPS_int_13 tgactcttatgagggagctc ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 13 DHPS_int_14 agtgaatttggcccaagaag ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 14 DHPS_int_15 cagagatagtctgggaggag Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 15 DHPS_int_16 gctaagtgttgcctctactg ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 16 DNMT1_int_1 gaatccacggtccattttgg ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 17 DNMT1_int_2 cttgctgtatttggggatca Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 18 DNMT1_int_3 catcgagatgcacagctttg Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 19 DNMT1_int_4 gtgacatccgtctctggagg ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 20 DNMT1_int_5 aaggagcaagaaccacacag Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 21 DNMT1_int_6 aatgcacggttaaagttcct Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 22 DNMT1_int_7 caggcacagatttacaggaa ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 23 DNMT1_int_8 agccagttctcattagcaag Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 24 DNMT1_int_9 acacactaaagaacacaccc Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 25 DNMT1_int_10 gatccttgtgcacggaagtt ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 26 DNMT1_int_11 aatgaactgatggcgttcat Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 27 DNMT1_int_12 cacacctcacttgaacaagt Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 28 DNMT1_int_13 gtgagggttcctctgactca ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 29 DNMT1_int_14 tttcacaaatccagctggaa Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 30 DNMT1_int_15 cccaaagacccaaatcagaa Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 31 DNMT1_int_16 ggggttgaaccaaatatcca ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 32 EEF2_int_1 attactacgcctgccacatc Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 33 EEF2_int_2 cggcagaaaatcgatctcaa ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 34 EEF2_int_3 ctttgctcgttctgccattc Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 35 EEF2_int_4 ctttgtacatctgggagtca ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 36 EEF2_int_5 acacctcgtgtctcaataag Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 37 EEF2_int_6 cgagcaagaagcttcatcat ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 38 EEF2_int_7 acgtaagggatgaatcctct Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 39 EEF2_int_8 actaaagtctcatttggggc ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 40 EEF2_int_9 tgagtgtcaacagatttcct Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 41 EEF2_int_10 ggaaccaccgttaataggtg ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 42 EEF2_int_11 gaatcttgccagcctaacac Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 43 EEF2_int_12 gttcagtccaaacgaaccag ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 44 EEF2_int_13 ctcgtgatttccaggaacac Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 45 EEF2_int_14 gaaagagacgttgccaagtc ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 46 EEF2_int_15 ggactgaacctcactcattc Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 47 EEF2_int_16 agatattgtaggagtggggg ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 48 EGLN2_int_1 aactgcctaaaccttctgtg ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 49 EGLN2_int_2 gtccccacaagtaagcatac ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 50 EGLN2_int_3 atcaggtgcacacattaagg ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 51 EGLN2_int_4 aaagtcaagaaccactgtgg ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 52 EGLN2_int_5 gaatgtcagcagctctcatg ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 53 EGLN2_int_6 gacagacagcaacagagaac ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 54 EGLN2_int_7 gatggactagaaacatgggc ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 55 EGLN2_int_8 ccacccatgaagacaatgat ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 56 EGLN2_int_9 cagaagcagaacccaagatg ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 57 EGLN2_int_10 gctcagctatcaagtaacgg ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 58 EGLN2_int_11 gtattccgtggatcagcaaa ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 59 EGLN2_int_12 gtccccaaccacatagaaag ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 60 EGLN2_int_13 tccttacttccctaggacaa ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 61 EGLN2_int_14 cccatctaaaagcgggaaag ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 62 EGLN2_int_15 gagtacaggagagagtccag ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 63 EGLN2_int_16 cagaacgactaagaagcacg ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 64 EIF3K_int_1 gattctctcgcttctaggcc ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 65 EIF3K_int_2 cgaagagactgagtggtacc ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 66 EIF3K_int_3 aaggaaaccttaaggcaatt ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 67 EIF3K_int_4 atgtccacctgaacactctg ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 68 EIF3K_int_5 tcctgaatgtctctgctact ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 69 EIF3K_int_6 tcagtcactgcagcttgtac ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 70 EIF3K_int_7 taggatgcctcctcaacctc ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 71 EIF3K_int_8 aagctctaaactccactgga ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 72 EIF3K_int_9 ttcttatcccagacctctcg ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 73 EIF3K_int_10 gctctatccaggtagtgaat ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 74 EIF3K_int_11 cagccaccttatggagcaag ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 75 EIF3K_int_12 agacagagagctagacactt ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 76 EIF3K_int_13 ctagttgctgcaatgggagt ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 77 EIF3K_int_14 gctgcattgttcaggatact ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 78 EIF3K_int_15 ctagtcttgcacaccaagag ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 79 EIF3K_int_16 ctcctgtcccaacttccttg ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 80 FBL_int_1 gacctgctggaatcagaatc ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 81 FBL_int_2 cctattagacggcctcaatg ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 82 FBL_int_3 ctcctgcccaatatccaaaa Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 83 FBL_int_4 cagatgcctgaatccaaact ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 84 FBL_int_5 caagcctgattcccaaaaca ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 85 FBL_int_6 ggtggaaatcttaatcccca Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 86 FBL_int_7 cgagcttgttaagtctcgtc ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 87 FBL_int_8 gagtggtttcagcagaatct ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 88 FBL_int_9 accaccgagaaggattctaa Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 89 FBL_int_10 ttctcacacagatgagtgcg ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 90 FBL_int_11 taggaaaacagaccctttgg ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 91 FBL_int_12 tcaagagatccccaaacacg Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 92 FBL_int_13 atcacagaccagaatgcctg ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 93 FBL_int_14 cattctaccacacatggagg ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 94 FBL_int_15 gagctaacacctgacaactt Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 95 FBL_int_16 ctcactcaggctaaaatcct ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 96 ILF3_int_1 atgctttggaaaaggctaca ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 97 ILF3_int_2 actgacttcgttcctacact ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 98 ILF3_int_3 ggacaagcaaactgaaaagc ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 99 ILF3_int_4 gagcacaactgaagaaccaa ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 100 ILF3_int_5 tatcgctcgtgtgtaaaagc ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 101 ILF3_int_6 tgcacaattcagaatgatgc ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 102 ILF3_int_7 agcccaacgttcatctttta ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 103 ILF3_int_8 agaggctggagtttcttaga ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 104 ILF3_int_9 aattcagtctgaccacaacc ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 105 ILF3_int_10 atcctcaatcagcatgccta ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 106 ILF3_int_11 tggttgtcacctactgagaa ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 107 ILF3_int_12 cacagaatctctgtggcttg ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 108 ILF3_int_13 cttatgacccctgcagtcag ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 109 ILF3_int_14 acgtgaagtttatgcccaat ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 110 ILF3_int_15 tctatctagccatccatcca ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 111 ILF3_int_16 gctttggatccaatggaaga ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 112 MARK4_int_1 gaccttgaagaagccagaaa ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 113 MARK4_int_2 cctgaagctgagaagttgat Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 114 MARK4_int_3 caagggaaaagggcttgaaa ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 115 MARK4_int_4 gagaaagcttccagcagatt ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 116 MARK4_int_5 aggtcaaggggtctagaaat Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 117 MARK4_int_6 agatgaataaaggctgagcc ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 118 MARK4_int_7 ctggaagtatggggtaggaa ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 119 MARK4_int_8 tcctaggaatcagagaaggg Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 120 MARK4_int_9 ggaatggtggaaagtgacaa ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 121 MARK4_int_10 tgatcagagacacaggagat ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 122 MARK4_int_11 gcaggtctttggaagtgatc Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 123 MARK4_int_12 tggggagaagtctaggattg ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 124 MARK4_int_13 gatctgcaagatgaggaagg ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 125 MARK4_int_14 actccaaattggagttctgg Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 126 MARK4_int_15 attgtagtgaccaaggaaca ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 127 MARK4_int_16 ctgaatcgagtaagccttgg ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 128 PPP2R1A_int_1 caaccggggagataagagac Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 129 PPP2R1A_int_2 cctacttggagcaagtcatg Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 130 PPP2R1A_int_3 aattaggatggcaggccttc Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 131 PPP2R1A_int_4 aaaatgagaggcggaggaag Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 132 PPP2R1A_int_5 cgtcctcttaggacacctaa Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 133 PPP2R1A_int_6 gctcctaaacttggctagtc Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 134 PPP2R1A_int_7 tatcctggtcaatgggagga Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 135 PPP2R1A_int_8 gcttagcaaatccctcaacc Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 136 PPP2R1A_int_9 catcccataaccaggaatgt Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 137 PPP2R1A_int_10 cctctttaatcaccactccc Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 138 PPP2R1A_int_11 aacagacctaaagggaggat Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 139 PPP2R1A_int_12 gtttggcaggttacccagtg Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 140 PPP2R1A_int_13 tataccaggaacctaggagg Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 141 PPP2R1A_int_14 tccccagcatcatatctcat Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 142 PPP2R1A_int_15 tatagcaactggtgtctcca Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 143 PPP2R1A_int_16 cctgtttcacatctggatcc Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 144 PTBP1_int_1 gaatgcgaaacatctccagc Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 145 PTBP1_int_2 aaacttctcaggaaaacgga ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 146 PTBP1_int_3 ctcttctgacaccacagact Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 147 PTBP1_int_4 gggggaaggtggatagaaag ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 148 PTBP1_int_5 gaacacagcctcagttactg Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 149 PTBP1_int_6 ctgaaactggcaaactcaca ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 150 PTBP1_int_7 gtgctttccagtaagttgga Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 151 PTBP1_int_8 cacgttccaagacaaagaca ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 152 PTBP1_int_9 ccacttgactgcaacttgaa Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 153 PTBP1_int_10 cgctagagaaagctcagaag ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 154 PTBP1_int_11 cggagaagcaaagtgagaag Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 155 PTBP1_int_12 aactccagattccagaccaa ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 156 PTBP1_int_13 tgacagcaagaaccgaagag Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 157 PTBP1_int_14 taggctggattctatccagg ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 158 PTBP1_int_15 tcaaccagtaaatgcccatc Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 159 PTBP1_int_16 ccctttcctcacatgctgag ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 160 RPL18A_int_1 gttgggtgcaacaagagaag ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 161 RPL18A_int_2 ctatgctgcgcgacttattc ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 162 RPL18A_int_3 tttcatctgcttctcacagc ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 163 RPL18A_int_4 tatgtaccacagcgttaagc ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 164 RPL18A_int_5 ccatagagccgtttgattct ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 165 RPL18A_int_6 agtccaggttctcctatctc ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 166 RPL18A_int_7 agctggagatctggacataa ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 167 RPL18A_int_8 cctttgacagcaaggaaacc ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 168 RPL18A_int_9 gttcaggaagggaacaatgg ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 169 RPL18A_int_10 ttttactgtgaacctgaccc ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 170 RPL18A_int_11 aaaccacctctgaaactgac ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 171 RPL18A_int_12 aatctttggtcaagtccagg ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 172 RPL18A_int_13 ggtttacagatgcagaggtg ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 173 RPL18A_int_14 aactgcaatccaaacgtttg ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 174 RPL18A_int_15 agaactaggacaagacctca ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 175 RPL18A_int_16 catcttctttcaccctgagg ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 176 RPS19_int_1 tctggatcgcactaacagag Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 177 RPS19_int_2 catcctaaaccgtggtaccc ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 178 RPS19_int_3 ggagaaagtcaagcatgtga Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 179 RPS19_int_4 tttgaacctcagtccccaaa ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 180 RPS19_int_5 gtacaaagagaggctggaac Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 181 RPS19_int_6 cctcaacacaactatgctgt ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 182 RPS19_int_7 ctaccccatatcccaaatgc Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 183 RPS19_int_8 cacgattcagtcatctccac ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 184 RPS19_int_9 aagaccaaaacagtgggaaa Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 185 RPS19_int_10 gaagtatggtttgtgccagg ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 186 RPS19_int_11 gaaagagctcagaggagaca Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 187 RPS19_int_12 caagtggtgacacaaccaag ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 188 RPS19_int_13 tcgaatgtcacatcacacaa Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 189 RPS19_int_14 aaaaacttggagtaccaagt ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 190 RPS19_int_15 ttcatctgtctctggtttcc Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 191 RPS19_int_16 aaaccacctgtaagcaaaat ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 192 RPS9_int_1 gcttactcatggaaactcgg ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 193 RPS9_int_2 tcatagtcagtatctgcccc Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 194 RPS9_int_3 atccgatctcgcgagaataa ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 195 RPS9_int_4 gagagaagtgtgagcgtaag Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 196 RPS9_int_5 atagagtacatgggcacctt ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 197 RPS9_int_6 gtaccaaatttaggggacgg Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 198 RPS9_int_7 tggaatcacaaaaccttcct ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 199 RPS9_int_8 cgtactggcacaacaactag Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 200 RPS9_int_9 gggagaatgaacctcacaag ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 201 RPS9_int_10 gacacaactctcatcactgg Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 202 RPS9_int_11 aaggctggttccatttatcc ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 203 RPS9_int_12 tttcctacttcacaagtgcc Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 204 RPS9_int_13 acctaagaaacagggcaaag ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 205 RPS9_int_14 aggcctatctttagctctgg Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 206 RPS9_int_15 gcccagaaattccacttcat ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 207 RPS9_int_16 aaccctgttatcaccatcac Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 208 SLC1A5_int_1 gaggactcactgagcgaaag ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 209 SLC1A5_int_2 tgcatttttccaggaactaa Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 210 SLC1A5_int_3 tgagcccgtattctcattga ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 211 SLC1A5_int_4 aattaaaactcacaggaggc ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 212 SLC1A5_int_5 atgccaagctaacaatgctc Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 213 SLC1A5_int_6 gtgtccatcgttaccagggc ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 214 SLC1A5_int_7 taggcaaagaggtagagccc ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 215 SLC1A5_int_8 aaggactgcagagtgtcaat Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 216 SLC1A5_int_9 acaaagtagagacctatcca ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 217 SLC1A5_int_10 cacctggggtgggaaaagag ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 218 SLC1A5_int_11 gagagggcagcatggaatgg Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 219 SLC1A5_int_12 cagtttgagcaggttgaggg ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 220 SLC1A5_int_13 aaaggacactcagtctacct ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 221 SLC1A5_int_14 ctgtgggcaaggaacagatc Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 222 SLC1A5_int_15 caaacagaatgccccgcacc ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 223 SLC1A5_int_16 gtgaatagagggtgccccat ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 224 SUPT5H_int_1 tctcttgagacaatctggga ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 225 SUPT5H_int_2 cctttgcttgacttcgactt Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 226 SUPT5H_int_3 tgttatctcactggacctga Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 227 SUPT5H_int_4 ctttttttagggggtggtgg ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 228 SUPT5H_int_5 ctctgatccaaccaaagtgg Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 229 SUPT5H_int_6 ggaacacagtagtagatgca Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 230 SUPT5H_int_7 accagacacctgagaagtaa ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 231 SUPT5H_int_8 ctggtttgtgattgctacct Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 232 SUPT5H_int_9 gtgcatcaaacaagggatct Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 233 SUPT5H_int_10 ggcaactaacatatcctggg ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 234 SUPT5H_int_11 acacagccacatgaaatctt Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 235 SUPT5H_int_12 gcactctccatctaccaaac Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 236 SUPT5H_int_13 taagtgactgggacaagtca ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 237 SUPT5H_int_14 ggcaatcaaatgtccacaga Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 238 SUPT5H_int_15 cactctccaaaggtcacaat Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 239 SUPT5H_int_16 atccagtgctacagcttaga ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 240 TOMM40_int_1 atcacctcctagtgctgtta ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 241 TOMM40_int_2 ccatcattctaagccccaag Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 242 TOMM40_int_3 ctgctatgacattccatccc ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 243 TOMM40_int_4 gatcacaagagaagtctggc Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 244 TOMM40_int_5 gaacaccagaacagaactcc ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 245 TOMM40_int_6 cacagaattgtcccaaggat Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 246 TOMM40_int_7 aagctgagcaactttaggtc ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 247 TOMM40_int_8 ttgcttgctcaaatctcact Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 248 TOMM40_int_9 tacagcctagttagacaggg ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 249 TOMM40_int_10 gattccacctgtaaagaggc Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 250 TOMM40_int_11 cacagcagaacatctcacaa ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 251 TOMM40_int_12 gagaagagaaacgctgtcac Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 252 TOMM40_int_13 tctggcactatatctccgag ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 253 TOMM40_int_14 taggtccccaaactgagtag Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 254 TOMM40_int_15 agagactcagagaaaggagg ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 255 TOMM40_int_16 tgtgacgatactggacagat Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 256 UBA2_int_1 ccaaagaacagtctcctccc ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 257 UBA2_int_2 ttgaagggaggataagaggc ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 258 UBA2_int_3 ctcctaacagccgggaattt Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 259 UBA2_int_4 ttaaagtcacaacatccgcg ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 260 UBA2_int_5 tcgttacttcggagttacga ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 261 UBA2_int_6 tcgctatcattgccatcctc Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 262 UBA2_int_7 ctgtgagagcaatgacagtc ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 263 UBA2_int_8 atgaaacaagcgagtgtacc ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 264 UBA2_int_9 caaaaggcacagtcctaacg Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 265 UBA2_int_10 aaatagcactggcttgtcaa ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 266 UBA2_int_11 tttaaactcacaccgaaggg ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 267 UBA2_int_12 tgtttccactagcccttaag Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 268 UBA2_int_13 aacctgagaactgtgaaagg ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 269 UBA2_int_14 cctcccttaattcaagcctt ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 270 UBA2_int_15 ttcgaatcgccataccaaaa Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 271 UBA2_int_16 tacattagtggagaaagcgt ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 272 UBA52_int_1 ctaaagtcagcacaacccac ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 273 UBA52_int_2 gagaagcaagggcaaaacag Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 274 UBA52_int_3 caaacgttcttcagatcaca ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 275 UBA52_int_4 ggccaactgaggtagaagat Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 276 UBA52_int_5 cactacccccagtttctcaa ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 277 UBA52_int_6 tattactggcagtgtcctct Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 278 UBA52_int_7 gaggctcagttagaggctct ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 279 UBA52_int_8 caatgctcctttcctaggac Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 280 UBA52_int_9 acactgaattcttgtcgctc ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 281 UBA52_int_10 aaggtcagacactgaagtct Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 282 UBA52_int_11 ccgacctctaagtggttcag ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 283 UBA52_int_12 gcatccatctgggtttctaa Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 284 UBA52_int_13 ggagtctgagactgacacat ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 285 UBA52_int_14 cgtgtggaagatacactgtc Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 286 UBA52_int_15 gcctatagtctgctgctttc ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 287 UBA52_int_16 caagcatcggagcacacata Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 288 ZNF444_int_1 gagtcacatggttttcagg ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 289 ZNF444_int_2 cttctctgataagccgtgac Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 290 ZNF444_int_3 gagaggacagctggtaactg ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 291 ZNF444_int_4 ttttgaacacattggggtcc ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 292 ZNF444_int_5 gtgccactactgaaaggatg Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 293 ZNF444_int_6 gactgctctgactcttcacc ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 294 ZNF444_int_7 ggtacgcacttatgaggaac ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 295 ZNF444_int_8 tctctgctgctacatctcag Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 296 ZNF444_int_9 catgagaagggagacggatg ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 297 ZNF444_int_10 atcccagacaataagagggg ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 298 ZNF444_int_11 cgaggatagagaagccagag Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 299 ZNF444_int_12 cccacttttgggaacaatga ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 300 ZNF444_int_13 gctgcgtttgtgatttgtta ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 301 ZNF444_int_14 ggatgaaagcagaggtcaag Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 302 ZNF444_int_15 ggatgaaagcagaggtcaag ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 303 ZNF444_int_16 taagtgggtcaaggtcagag ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 304 ZNF91_int_1 gattgtggagctgactgaag ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 305 ZNF91_int_2 catcttatcgctgaagggga Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 306 ZNF91_int_3 ctgcacaatctgggagagac Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 307 ZNF91_int_4 gagttaggctggaggaacag ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 308 ZNF91_int_5 tggtaagatagctgcgtcta Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 309 ZNF91_int_6 actgaagacacatcacccta Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 310 ZNF91_int_7 tccaagaaaaaactgaaggg ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 311 ZNF91_int_8 agagaatatgacccagaagc Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 312 ZNF91_int_9 tcaatacctcaggttgtcct Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 313 ZNF91_int_10 gtccacacttgagaagctaa ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 314 ZNF91_int_11 cactatttttctgcccccta Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 315 ZNF91_int_12 gcaagttcttacgccatcta Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 316 ZNF91_int_13 gtgcctcaggcacattatac ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 317 ZNF91_int_14 aggagactctgaactatgcc Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 318 ZNF91_int_15 ttaagtgctcaataaccccc Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 319 ZNF91_int_16 tcaagtcaggccattcaatt ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 320 SUZ12_mRNA_1 ctccattttcggcttcttca ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 321 SUZ12_mRNA_2 gaggaaaagctcgtggtcag ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 322 SUZ12_mRNA_3 gatctgtgttggcttctcaa ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 323 SUZ12_mRNA_4 gagattccgagttcgaagaa Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 324 SUZ12_mRNA_5 tgtgcaaaaatattggtgct Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 325 SUZ12_mRNA_6 tctggagtttcgatgagaca ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 326 SUZ12_mRNA_7 tgagattcttgctctccttt ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 327 SUZ12_mRNA_8 ctgcaaatgagctgacaagc ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 328 SUZ12_mRNA_9 tggaagaaaccagtaaacgt Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 329 SUZ12_mRNA_10 aagagtgaactgcaacgtag Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 330 SUZ12_mRNA_11 gcaataggagccgtagattt ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 331 SUZ12_mRNA_12 atttctagtggcaagaggtt ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 332 SUZ12_mRNA_13 taactgaaccaggcttgttt ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 333 SUZ12_mRNA_14 acagcaatagtttgagtagg Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 334 SUZ12_mRNA_15 tgttgccttgtattgttgtt Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 335 SUZ12_mRNA_16 caggtcatctcttgcttcag ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 336 SUZ12_mRNA_17 tcagagtacaccaagggcaa ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 337 SUZ12_mRNA_18 aaactataaagtttgcggca ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 338 SUZ12_mRNA_19 tggcagagtttaagatgctt Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 339 SUZ12_mRNA_20 cctagcaccttttggatgat Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 340 SUZ12_mRNA_21 ggagccatcataacactcat ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 341 SUZ12_mRNA_22 tatcctgaggatttcctgca ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 342 SUZ12_mRNA_23 tgcgactaaaagcaaatcca ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 343 SUZ12_mRNA_24 ggtgttctcttaactggtcc Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 344 SUZ12_mRNA_25 gcctgcacaccaagaatatgt Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 345 SUZ12_mRNA_26 catgcttgcttttgttcgtt ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 346 SUZ12_mRNA_27 ctttgctgttctacttcccc ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 347 SUZ12_mRNA_28 aaatacagacgattgtggcc ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 348 SUZ12_mRNA_29 agaggtaagcaggtatcact Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 349 SUZ12_mRNA_30 gacatggagattccagagtt Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 350 SUZ12_mRNA_31 cagcaataaacccatgcttc ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 351 SUZ12_mRNA_32 caggcatgattcatttgatt ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 352 SUZ12_mRNA_33 tgaagcatgaagtttcgaca ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 353 SUZ12_mRNA_34 aaagtcatgcatgctgacta Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 354 SUZ12_mRNA_35 catttcacggagcttggtaa Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 355 SUZ12_mRNA_36 tatttcttcgtttgcagggg ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 356 SUZ12_mRNA_37 ccatttgctgtcccattttg ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 357 SUZ12_mRNA_38 ctgttttgaaacccctgaga ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 358 SUZ12_mRNA_39 acatggggttagagcttttc Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 359 SUZ12_mRNA_40 agaggatgaattccctaaaa Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 360 SUZ12_mRNA_41 tgaagtagaaccctgataca ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 361 SUZ12_mRNA_42 cctccccaagaaaatgtctc ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 362 SUZ12_mRNA_43 aggatcaaagtttgactgca ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 363 SUZ12_mRNA_44 gggtgagcaatgcactaaaa Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 364 SUZ12_mRNA_45 acagcttaattttccgtgtg Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 365 SUZ12_mRNA_46 caaatgcgttctttccttgg ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 366 SUZ12_mRNA_47 ttctccccttataagtgaca ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 367 SUZ12_mRNA_48 agtcagcttatctctattgg ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 368 SUZ12_mRNA_49 acacatataacacagggcaa Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 369 SUZ12_mRNA_50 caactgcaaatatgtgcgtg Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 370 SUZ12_mRNA_51 tgcttgttaatgtgccagta ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 371 SUZ12_mRNA_52 cggagttggaataaaaacct ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 372 SUZ12_mRNA_53 gatgttactcaaccacagtg ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 373 SUZ12_mRNA_54 acacatcttaaagaccagtc Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 374 SUZ12_mRNA_55 tcgttaaatagcctcacagt Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 375 SUZ12_mRNA_56 tgacaaatcacatccacact ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 376 SUZ12_mRNA_57 aatgaaagctgcagtttccc ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 377 SUZ12_mRNA_58 gcttaccaatcaaggaatct ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 378 SUZ12_mRNA_59 ccagaggcaaaaatcagagt Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 379 SUZ12_mRNA_60 cgagataaacgctcgagatc Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 380 SUZ12_mRNA_61 tatgtgcacagctttagcaa ATTO647N SEQ ID NO: 381 SUZ12_mRNA_62 ttctacacctacatctcccc ATTO488 SEQ ID NO: 382 SUZ12_mRNA_63 agcattaagagcataactgc ATTO700 SEQ ID NO: 383 SUZ12_mRNA_64 gcaaacaatgctagccttct Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 384 SUZ12_mRNA_65 ggtgggaatcaccaactttt Alexa594 SEQ ID NO: 385 CCNA2_exons_1 gtctgctgcaatgctagcag Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 386 CCNA2_exons_2 gccttttccgggttgatatt Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 387 CCNA2_exons_3 ggttcccggacttcagtacc Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 388 CCNA2_exons_4 aggaagatccttaaggggtg Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 389 CCNA2_exons_5 ttgctttccaaggaggaacg Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 390 CCNA2_exons_6 gtgaacgcaggctgtttact Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 391 CCNA2_exons_7 ttctgcttcatccacatgaa Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 392 CCNA2_exons_8 ctggcttcttctgagcttct Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 393 CCNA2_exons_9 tcacgctctattttttgaga Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 394 CCNA2_exons_10 tgaattaaaagccagggcat Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 395 CCNA2_exons_11 aagagggaccaatggttttc Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 396 CCNA2_exons_12 tttccctaaggtatgtgtga Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 397 CCNA2_exons_13 tcatgtaacccactttaggt Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 398 CCNA2_exons_14 gttagtgatgtctggctgtt Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 399 CCNA2_exons_15 ccacgaggatagctctcata Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 400 CCNA2_exons_16 atgtagttcacagccaaatg Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 401 CCNA2_exons_17 acatggaagacaggaaccta Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 402 CCNA2_exons_18 ctaacagcatagcagcagtg Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 403 CCNA2_exons_19 tgtacacaaactctgctact Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 404 CCNA2_exons_20 ttggtgtaggtatcatctgt Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 405 CCNA2_exons_21 gctccattctcagaacttgt Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 406 CCNA2_exons_22 gtcaaaagtaaggactttca Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 407 CCNA2_exons_23 gatttactgttggagcagct Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 408 CCNA2_exons_24 tgatgcagaaagtattgggt Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 409 CCNA2_exons_25 ttcaactttgcagtttgcag Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 410 CCNA2_exons_26 ttgaggtatgggtcagcatc Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 411 CCNA2_exons_27 agcaataactgatggcaaat Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 412 CCNA2_exons_28 gtgctaaatgaaaggcagct Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 413 CCNA2_exons_29 ctttgtcccgtgactgtgta Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 414 CCNA2_exons_30 ccagtctttcgtattaatga Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 415 CCNA2_exons_31 gcttaagactttccagggta Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 416 CCNA2_exons_32 gtgctttgaggtaggtctgg Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 417 CCNA2_exons_33 tattgactgttgtgcatgct Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 418 CCNA2_exons_34 gaggagagaaacaccatgat Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 419 CCNA2_exons_35 gatttagtgtctctggtggg Cy3 SEQ ID NO: 420 roX2_1 uauguaacaccaauuuaccc TAMRA SEQ ID NO: 421 roX2_2 ugugauuuccaaauagucgu TAMRA SEQ ID NO: 422 roX2_3 guuuuguagcuugacaagcg TAMRA SEQ ID NO: 423 roX2_4 uguauauuguauaucauuca TAMRA SEQ ID NO: 424 roX2_5 gcguuccaagacacauuuuu TAMRA SEQ ID NO: 425 roX2_6 cguuacccauauaugcauau TAMRA SEQ ID NO: 426 roX2_7 ugacugguuaaggcgcguaa TAMRA SEQ ID NO: 427 MtnA_1 cugcugaccacaacugaugc TAMRA SEQ ID NO: 428 MtnA_2 cacugagaugauucacuuga TAMRA SEQ ID NO: 429 MtnA_3 gggcuauuuaggccuuuagu TAMRA SEQ ID NO: 430 MtnA_4 uauuuccucgaacuuguuca TAMRA SEQ ID NO: 431 MtnA_5 gcaaggcaucuugauugagu TAMRA SEQ ID NO: 432 MtnA_6 ccgcacuugcagucagaucc TAMRA SEQ ID NO: 433 MtnA_7 guguagagagacaagaugca TAMRA SEQ ID NO: 434 MtnA_8 aauuggacauuuauugcagg TAMRA SEQ ID NO: 435 roX2_FISH_1 ttcgaaacgatctctaaagc Cy5 SEQ ID NO: 436 roX2_FISH_2 tttcgaacgattatcaatgt Cy5 SEQ ID NO: 437 roX2_FISH_3 cttgattttgcttcggagaa Cy5 SEQ ID NO: 438 roX2_FISH_4 tatgcggaaatcgttactct Cy5 SEQ ID NO: 439 roX2_FISH_5 attcaacttaaacattttcg Cy5 SEQ ID NO: 440 roX2_FISH_6 tcatctcactgtccgtaaga Cy5 SEQ ID NO: 441 roX2_FISH_7 tcaaccatgaaaacaattcg Cy5 SEQ ID NO: 442 roX2_FISH_8 gcattgcgacttgtacaatg Cy5 SEQ ID NO: 443 roX2_FISH_9 acacgtcttttaagacttca Cy5 SEQ ID NO: 444 roX2_FISH_10 tttgcttaatttgcaacatt Cy5 SEQ ID NO: 445 roX2_FISH_11 acatttcactagttatatga Cy5 SEQ ID NO: 446 MtnA_FISH_1 atttgcatccgcttccgcat Cy5 SEQ ID NO: 447 MtnA_FISH_2 agttgcaggatcccttggtg Cy5 SEQ ID NO: 448 MtnA_FISH_3 gcaggcggatttcttgtcgc Cy5 SEQ ID NO: 449 MtnA_FISH_4 ggaaagctcactcggagcag Cy5 SEQ ID NO: 450 MtnA_FISH_5 gcctctactccagatctttt Cy5 SEQ ID NO: 451

Without further description, it is believed that one of ordinary skill in the art can, using the preceding description and the following illustrative examples, make and utilize the present invention and practice the claimed methods. The following working examples therefore, specifically point out the preferred embodiments of the present invention, and are not to be construed as limiting in any way the remainder of the disclosure.

Example 1 Simultaneous Determination of Chromosome Structure and Gene Expression

As depicted in FIG. 1B, 18 genes were targeted along chromosome 19, illuminating the chromosome robustly and with low background. Because the method of the present invention is based on RNA FISH, it is easy to combine with RNA FISH labeling mRNAs to simultaneously measure the expression of specific genes, as depicted in FIG. 1C. The introns themselves also yield critical gene expression information, since most genes' introns yield spots in fewer than 50% of cells. That said, the determination of overall chromosome structure via the methods of the present invention can additionally include the labeling of a large number of genes, thus imparting redundancy into the method, and may further include an RT-PCR screen to aid in the bioinformatic identification of abundant intron targets.

As depicted in FIG. 1B, distinctly labeled genes in three different regions of chromosome 19 reveal a remarkably ordered intrachromsomal configuration. When comparing the spot patterns in different cells, chromosomes can take a wide variety of shapes. Surprisingly, some data gathered suggests that within certain cells, the two copies of the chromosome sometimes adopt a very similar spot pattern, as depicted in FIG. 1B. This indicates that expression and shape is correlated between the two copies of chromosomes within single cells.

In a second set of experiments, the transcription site of 20 unique genes along chromosome 19 was detected using color-coded probes, as depicted in FIG. 3. Here, a false spot identification rate below 5% is demonstrated. These spot data for 20 genes were used to reconstruct chromosome conformations of actively transcribing genes (FIG. 3).

Example 2 Measuring Chromosome Structure and Gene Expression In Vivo

Many insights in systems biology have arisen from the use of time-lapse microscopy to understand the dynamics of cellular processes. For this reason, the methods of the present invention can also be applied to living cells to provide a dynamic view of chromosome structure and gene expression. To date, there is no way of looking at chromosome structure or gene expression in a non-perturbative (i.e., no genetic manipulation) manner via microscopy in single living cells.

Experiments can be performed to tackle the challenges of targeting nucleic acids in vivo. For example, considerations include hybridization kinetics, sequence design, oligonucleotide chemistry and delivery methods, amongst several others. RNA of a single intron from a highly expressed gene can be targeted by designing a series of 16-48 oligonucleotides, with the idea that the binding of a large number of oligonucleotides to a single location in the cell can result in a detectable spot. These oligonucleotides can be synthesized with a variety of modified backbone chemistries (such as 2′O-methyl), which are necessary to render the oligonucleotides impervious to various cellular nucleases. Depending on the results, the design of the oligonucleotides can be altered, perhaps employing a “molecular beacon” or other probe designs that are capable of decreasing background through the use of quenchers, particularly in the nucleus. Probe delivery methods can include microinjection, microporation and lipid-based transfection reagents, for example. Given the methods capable of detecting a single RNA, and the fact that most intron spots contain between 5 and 10 intron RNA molecules to target, individual intron spots can be detected in vivo, using FISH as a control for validation.

After detecting a single intron, the methods of the present invention can be used to label multiple introns simultaneously, with the aim of labeling an entire chromosome in vivo while also providing some coarse measurements of gene expression. The spots can then be color coded to reproduce a barcoded chromosome in a living cell.

The methods described herein provide a way to perform live RNA imaging. This imaging can be performed on long non-coding RNA (roX2) in Drosophila melanogaster cells. This particular RNA coats the X chromosome, resulting in a very peculiar spatial distribution in the cell. This spatial distribution was exploited to test unambiguously whether the described method can detect endogenous RNA in single living cells and can show the structure of the X chromosome. For example, a live imaging probe (consisting of eight labeled oligonucleotides) was found to detect the roX2 RNA, and the signals were verified by RNA FISH (FIG. 5). In another example, live RNA imaging was performed on an endogenous gene in Drosophila melanogaster cells. The gene which is turned on in the presence of copper, was specifically targeted. Oligonucleotide probes were delivered to live cells, and then the probes were detected after fixation. The specificity of the signal was verified by targeting the same target after fixation using RNA FISH with differently labeled probes, with the result that the signals colocalized (FIG. 6).

Example 3 Determination of Location and Transcriptional Frequency of Chromosomal Fragments

The location of different chromosomal fragments in HeLa cells was determined on a single cell basis using methods described herein As shown in FIG. 4, these chromosomal fragments include two intact copies of chromosome 19 as well as another copy of chromosome 19 that has been split in half, where one half is fused to a portion of chromosome 13 and the second half is fused to a portion of chromosome 6.

The transcriptional frequency of the intact copies of chromosome 19 was then compared to the translocated fragments. By spatially segregating introns based on nuclear proximity, individual chromosomes and chromosome fragments were isolated, and instantaneous transcriptional activity was measured on a per-chromosome basis. The transcriptional activity was measured in units of fraction of chromosomes exhibiting an intron spot for the given gene for 20 genes along chromosome 19. It was found that the genes on the portion of chromosome 19 that was fused to chromosome 6 transcribe about as often as those on the intact chromosome 19, while genes on the portion of chromosome 19 that was fused to chromosome 13 generally express at a considerably higher rate than those on the intact copy. Thus, the present invention provides a method to measure transcription on a per-chromosome basis.

Example 4 Translocations in Cancer

Many forms of cancer exhibit stereotypical chromosomal translocations (Mitelman et al., 2007, Nat Rev Cancer 7: 233-245), perhaps most famously the Philadelphia translocation, which results in the formation of an oncogenic fusion protein (BRC-ABL), which in turn leads to chronic myelogenous leukemia. The development of RNA sequencing technologies has shown the prevalence of specific fusions in a variety of cancers. Yet, the question remains of exactly how these very specific translocations occur. Specific translocations may arise due to colocalization of certain chromosomal locations during the transcription of specific genes.

The method described herein provides a new way for measuring these translocations. By measuring chromosome structure via the present invention, one can detect the translocation itself directly. Moreover, the method is easily combined with RNA FISH, thereby facilitating the detection of the fusion transcript by labeling the two halves of the fusion with differently colored probes. This would enable the measurement of the expression level of the oncogenic fusion transcript as well as chromosomal translocations within a single cell.

For example, translocations resulting in the fusion of the JAZF1 and JJAZ1 proteins can be studied, which is implicated in the formation of endometrial cancer. Interestingly, fusion transcripts appear even in non-cancerous cells that do not contain the translocation, suggesting that the normal transcription of these genes can sometimes result in their physical proximity that then lead to trans-splicing events. The two chromosomes involved (7 and 17) can be targeted together with the two halves of the fusion transcript via single molecule RNA FISH both in wild-type cells and cells that harbor the translocation (FIG. 2 and FIG. 1C). Colocalization analysis with the two chromosomes allows one to determine the relative locations of the relevant genetic loci and how they are related to the overall shape of the chromosomes. Meanwhile, one can simultaneously look for colocalization of the two halves of the fusion transcript. Colocalization of the two probes implies presence of the fusion transcript, while signal from individual probes represents non-fused transcripts. Currently, it is unknown whether wild-type cells contain some amount of the fusion transcript in every cell or only a small subpopulation of cells produce the fusion transcript in high abundance. In either case, the single cell, single molecule analysis of the present invention allows one to answer this question directly and relate any findings to the structure of the chromosomes involved.

The disclosures of each and every patent, patent application, and publication cited herein are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

While this invention has been disclosed with reference to specific embodiments, it is apparent that other embodiments and variations of this invention may be devised by others skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. The appended claims are intended to be construed to include all such embodiments and equivalent variations. 

What is claimed:
 1. A method for determining the structural conformation of a chromosome in a cell, comprising hybridizing a plurality of target sequences of RNA in the cell with members of at least one set of fluorescently labeled oligonucleotide probes, wherein the plurality of targeted sequences of RNA are transcribed from portions of at least one chromosome, and wherein the pattern of fluorescently labeled probes hybridized to the target sequences of RNA is indicative of the structural conformation of the chromosome.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the location of the hybridized probes is simultaneously indicative of the chromosomal location of gene expression for the transcribed RNA.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the number, the intensity, or both, of fluorescing probes is indicative of the level of gene expression at the chromosomal location.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein each set of fluorescently labeled oligonucleotide probe sets are labeled with a different fluorophore resulting in a different and distinguishable color when measurably fluorescent.
 5. The method of claim of claim 1, further comprising counting fluorescent spots corresponding to single molecules of target RNA to obtain a gene expression profile corresponding to the simultaneously determined, associated chromosomal conformation.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the probes are non-overlapping.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein probe hybridization occurs in the cell nucleus.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the cell is a living cell.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the target sequences of RNA are endogenous RNA.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the cell is a mammalian cell, an invertebrate cell, a yeast cell or a bacterium.
 11. The method of claim 8, wherein the cell is a human cell.
 12. The method of claim 8, wherein the cell is a cancer cell.
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein the targeted RNA is mRNA.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the targeted mRNA sequence is at least a portion of an intron of the mRNA sequence.
 15. The method of claim 1, wherein the targeted RNA is non-coding RNA (ncRNA).
 16. An assay for determining the structural conformation of a chromosome in a cell, comprising hybridizing a plurality of target sequences of mRNA in the cell with members of a plurality of fluorescently labeled oligonucleotide probe sets, wherein each probe set utilizes a distinguishable color; wherein the plurality of targeted sequences of mRNA are transcribed from portions of at least one chromosome; and wherein the pattern of fluorescently labeled probes hybridized to the target sequences of mRNA is indicative of the structural conformation of the chromosome.
 17. The assay of claim 16, wherein the location of the hybridized probes is simultaneously indicative of the chromosomal location of gene expression for the transcribed mRNA.
 18. The assay of claim 17, wherein the number, the intensity, or both, of fluorescing probes is indicative of the level of gene expression at the chromosomal location.
 19. The assay of claim 16, further comprising counting fluorescent spots corresponding to single molecules of target mRNA to obtain a gene expression profile corresponding to the simultaneously determined, associated chromosomal conformation.
 20. The assay of claim 16, wherein the probes are non-overlapping.
 21. The assay of claim 15, wherein probe hybridization occurs in the cell nucleus.
 22. The assay of claim 16, wherein the cell is a living cell.
 23. The assay of claim 22, wherein the target sequences of mRNA are transcribed from an endogenous gene.
 24. The assay of claim 16, wherein the cell is a mammalian cell, an invertebrate cell, a yeast cell or a bacterium.
 25. The assay of claim 16, wherein the cell is a human cell.
 26. The assay of claim 16, wherein the cell is a cancer cell.
 27. The assay of claim 16, wherein the targeted mRNA sequence is at least a portion of an intron of the mRNA sequence. 